Big Sky Astronomical Society

We are trying to keep the momentum going by extending our  2010 Facility Enhancement Project beyond the summer and having it continue right into autumn. Phase 2 of the project would see the construction of a small shed that will be equipped with solar panels on the outside and deep-cycle lead-acid batteries on the inside. This would allow us to generate almost half a kilowatt of electricity on sunny days. The electricity would then be stored in the batteries and used to power our telescope and computers at night.

We have applied for a grant to make Phase 2 of our 2010 Facility Enhancement Project a reality, but we will not know the outcome of our grant application until September 30. The diagram below is an artist's conception of what the shed will look like. The solar panels will be attached to the south-facing wall and this wall will be angled to capture the maximum amount of sunlight on mid-winter days.